What should we be teaching young children?

amother

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:03 pm

I am a giyores. We are yeshivish.What and how are we supposed to be teaching kids from 0-3?

And from 3-6?

Lessons? Middos? Hashem? Alep beis? Basic social/emotional skills? Let me know.

I mean in terms of chinch, yiddishkeit.

trixx

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:07 pm

Are you homeschooling that you need a curriculum?
You should teach them emotional awareness, regulation and maturity. Model and involve them in daily mitzvos. That's enough.

amother

Khaki

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:09 pm

Uncle Moishy tapes and videos are super helpful.
To know facts- names and concepts of Mitzvos
To know middos
To know frum lingo
To know the popular Jewish tunes
...

amother

Khaki

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:12 pm

In our family, kids at 3;
Wash negel vasser and say modeh ani in morning and say shema at night
Stert to make brachos but not so important bec they’ll learn and reinforce in school
Keep basic shabbos (don’t turn on lights and do obvious muktzeh)
Wait between milk/meat and vice versa (ask a Shaila how long)

imasinger

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:18 pm

0-2, participate in the life of a Jewish family, buy Jewish books and music for young children. Easy brachos.

Middos are taught from birth on, by example, by discussion, by guidance. There are many wonderful children's books available, to enrich the process.

3-4, Aleph beis, with books, puzzles, hand on materials. If they're not enrolled in a Jewish program, look for age appropriate materials to teach them, you can find online from Jewish bookstores. Also, increased substance in understanding the chagim, and the actions, items, brachos, and food associated with each one. Kashrus. And simple stories and songs about parsha -- try 613 Torah Avenue.

5-6, learning the nekudos, then learning kriah, learning at a more sophisticated level about calendar, parsha. Learning to write, first in block letters, then in script. Learning beginning basics of Hebrew vocabulary -- prefixes, suffixes, a few shorashim. By 6, beginning to learn Chumash.

amother

Crimson

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:21 pm

Shema (abridged), modeh ani
Say bracha before eat, real ones, repeat word by word or in english thank you Hashem
Alef bais song
Childrens tapes
Wash hands before bread & negel vasser but 2yo to start-ish, not too young
Muktzah on shabbos - put toys away before shabbos

amother

Ruby

Mon, May 31 2021, 5:21 pm

Primarily talk to them about the mitzvos you are doing, when you're preparing for Yom Tov, and tell them stories of the Avos and stories of tzadikim. Read them Jewish stories and kiss the mezuzah and say Shema at night and Modeh Ani in the morning, make brachos on food, and that's all the Chinuch they need.

imasinger

Mon, May 31 2021, 8:41 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Which middos? How do you instill these middos.

You might like the Yossi and Leibel books, among others.

Thinking about others, kindness, telling truth, following Torah.

happy chick

Mon, May 31 2021, 8:43 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Which middos? How do you instill these middos.

As with everything , by example. You'd be surprised how much the little one pick up.

amother

Ecru

Mon, May 31 2021, 8:50 pm

#BestBubby wrote:

1. Hashem created the world.

2. Hashem loves us.

3. Hashem gave us the Torah and we must do all the mitzvos.

3. Hashem loves us and we are so lucky to be able to do all of His Mitzvos.

Also when it comes to middos, modeling is really where it comes from. Being careful to say please and thank you to your husband and the kids always, verbalizing "This made me very upset, I need to calm down before I react," giving of yourself for other etc. There are also lots of adorable kids books about sharing, being a gibor etc that help reinforce the ideas.

PinkFridge

Tue, Jun 01 2021, 7:15 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Which middos? How do you instill these middos.

"Middos are the way we act and how we think and feel. The Torah tells us just what we should do. If you want to do what's right and really be a mensch, you've got to have good middos through and through" - The Middos Machine.
IOW, modeling. I think you'll do great!

keym

Tue, Jun 01 2021, 7:40 am

I love the early Uncle Moishy. They were tapes. It's still possible to find them.
Uncle Moishy #1-7.
Those were more purposed to teach children with simple songs and dialogue.
I have a mezuzah
Give a little Tzedaka
Kosher Song
Brachos Song
Hachnosas Orchim
Kabeid Es Avicha

The later ones are more Jewish concept songs, but less teaching.

essie14

Tue, Jun 01 2021, 7:48 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Which middos? How do you instill these middos.

Middot are not inherently Jewish. What values would you teach them if you werent jewish?

PinkFridge

Tue, Jun 01 2021, 8:10 am

essie14 wrote:

Middot are not inherently Jewish. What values would you teach them if you werent jewish?

Yes and no.
Yes in the obvious ways. Our OP surely knows what good character traits are and I would say the world at large would be in agreement.
But there is a concept of we act with good middos to emulate Hashem, v'halachta b'drachav. In our modeling and teaching middos we have to project and teach that we are emulating Hashem. (I'm not sure if that's exactly what's meant by imitatio Dei but it is a uniquely religious approach.)

essie14

Tue, Jun 01 2021, 8:22 am

PinkFridge wrote:

I never heard of that. I'm FFB and was raised by FFB parents.
I teach my children to be kind and generous and polite, etc. I never tied it into emulating Hashem.
I teach them that Hashem loves us and provides for us , etc , hashgacha pratit, etc.